Disney Settles Donald Duck Grope Lawsuit

In 2008, a Pennsylvania woman visting Epcot with her young children and her fiancé approached an employee in a Donald Duck costume “in order to obtain an autograph.” You have to imagine that she was in a happy state of mind, filled with childlike glee, and knew it was silly — ducks can’t write — but all part of the youthful innocence Disney promises. Well. The woman claims Donald Duck “proceeded to grab” the woman’s breast and molest her, and then gesture, “making a joke, indicating he had done something wrong.” Gross. And not the first time? Allegedly, in 2004, a Disney World employee dressed as Tigger was charged with molesting a 13-year-old girl. The plaintiff in the Donald Duck case alleges the Mickey Mouse brand “has engaged in a practice of placing corporate profits over public safety while attempting to cover up, continuing, long standing similar prior incidents.”

Disney decided to settle. Of course. Court? Them? Never. There’s no indication of how much money was involved, but since the plaintiff was seeking $50,000 in damages, and claims the incident caused her “severe physical injury,” in addition to post-traumatic stress disorder, prevented her from living a normal life and ruined her vacation, we’re guessing she got what she demanded, and a little extra. Definitely enough to go to Harry Potter’s Wizarding World.